About a month before my cancer diagnosis in 1990 I was a reporter for a local paper and writing a story about the new cancer support group at the local hospital. I interviewed the local oncologist, Dr. Marc Hirsh for the story and visited his office. When I walked by the chemo …
Category: courage
Sep 28
Flying by the Seat of Your Pants?
I’ve read that an eagle, like many other animals, can sense a storm before it arrives. So the eagle flies to a high spot and waits for the inevitable winds. When the storm hits, the eagle sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. …
Sep 07
Finding Treasures Hidden in Darkness
And I would love for you to meet my friend, Nancy, a 10-year survivor of incurable liver cancer. My Cancer Prayer Support Group meetings always were better when she was there—partly because she’s a wonderful baker (she brought four fresh strawberry pies to one summer meeting!), but mostly because she’s just an awesome …
Aug 31
Don’t Waste Your Cancer
Those are the words penned by author-pastor John Piper on the eve of his surgery for prostate cancer in 2006. Our cancer support group often spent a meeting discussing one of Piper’s ten ways we can “waste” cancer by allowing it—instead of God—to be foremost in our lives. (You can read his wonderful …
Aug 24
When Your World Falls Apart
So where were you when the events of 9/11 unfurled? I bet you know exactly. I vividly remember I was standing in the chemo room at our oncology office chatting with patients when the first plane hit. And if you’re OLD like I am, you recall where you were when President Kennedy was shot …
Jul 27
Amazing Cancer Patients
I knew her as “The Horse Lady” long before I ever knew her name was Nicola. And if I was writing a brochure about amazing things cancer patients have done while undergoing treatment, the Horse Lady would be my cover photo. She got her nickname from Dr. Marc Hirsh, who initially had trouble remembering …
Jun 01
Becoming the “Ideal Patient”
Are you or your loved one an ideal patient? I’m not asking whether you do everything the doctors tell you to do. I’m not referring to whether your disease is easily treatable. And I’m not talking about whether you have the right personality. What I do mean is this: Do you have the right blend of realism and …
May 25
Peace in the Face of Cancer
I’ve just received word from Tyndale House that my manuscript for my new book Peace in the Face of Cancer has been “enthusiastically accepted!” This book has been rolling around in my head for at least a couple of years and I just couldn’t really relax in retirement until I got it out. For a …